"It's a little scary. You have lots of variables," said Paul, a resident of Rocky River near Cleveland.

"I have only limited visibility," he said, noting that he relies on spotters atop the turret to direct him.

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Nonetheless, Paul was happy to be participating and honoring the men who sat and fought in the tanks that helped push back the Germans after storming the Normandy beaches in France 76 years ago.

"To be able to pay homage to the men who did this in combat. ... It's awe-inspiring. It's truly an honor."

Many of those who lined Downtown streets had relatives in the parade among the band musicians, cheerleaders and ROTC members.

Others were there to honor the memories of the fallen.

April Johnson, of the South Side, was on her lunch break from her job at the Central Ohio Psychiatric Center.

"It's close to home," she said of the parade's ability to connect generations, even amid political and social strife. "People still come together. In the end, they come together."

Pat Kelly, 45, whose grandfather, Charles Kelly, served in the Army during the European conflict, was one of just a few waiting for the parade to begin near High and Long streets.

"I just feel the veterans should get more respect and gratitude. A lot of what we have today is because of them."

One of the dwindling representatives of the Greatest Generation in the parade was Army Air Force veteran Harry B. Diehl, who served in the 100th Troop Carrier Squadron in the 9th Army.

At 96, he wasn't sure he'd be able to wave for the entire, hour-long parade route.

"My hand's going to be shaking," he said, seated in a warm car as the temperature outside crawled above freezing into the mid-30s with a chilly breeze.

Diehl downplayed his service with paratroopers during combat.

"I pushed them out," he said, smiling.

Peter Rooth, who was on his first visit to Ohio,was impressed. The native of Stockholm, Sweden, here on business, stood in awe at the passing K-9 units, police honor guard and bagpipes. He smiled at the American Electric Power entry: a flag-draped bulldozer.

"We don't have this in Sweden," he said of a strong military presence and parade tradition. "I like it. It's kind of nice to remember."

As the Sherman tank carefully squared its turn to avoid brick pavement that is easily damaged by 60,000-plus pounds of steel, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther waved to honor the veterans.